Bridgett Augustino

Epidemiologist

As the Epidemiologist for the Southeast Resource Team, Bridgett is responsible for providing training and technical assistance throughout the Southeast Service Area with substance abuse epidemiological data-related issues. This work includes identification and development of data sources to support the estimation, prevalence and persistence of substance abuse consumption and consequences for SAMHSA grantee programs, the development and review of State Epidemiological Profiles and Strategic Plans to inform and validate the prioritization of substance abuse problems and their respective evidence-based strategies, and collaborates with each State, Tribe, and Jurisdiction’s Epidemiological Workgroups, prevention workforce, CAPT Specialist and Stakeholders to recommend measurement of specific data indicators for demonstrating outcomes, communicate findings, and ensure the dissemination of best-practices across all regions in the SAMHSA National CAPT system. She also serves as a member of the CAPT’s Behavioral Health Indicators Workgroup.

Bridgett brings to the team a strong background in assessment, capacity building, program implementation, and evaluation across behavioral health systems, particularly the continuum of substance abuse practices and science. As a Westat employee, she coordinated Phase III of the National Cross-Site Evaluation of the original State Incentive Grants (SIGs) and contributed to the SPF SIG National Cross-Site Evaluation. While working with Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation (PIRE), she participated in the state-level evaluation of Tennessee’s SPF SIG. She’s also served with the Center on Drug Abuse Research with the University of Kentucky and as a CAPT Service to Science TA Provider (2010) and Principal Investigator of a Service to Science Enhancement Evaluation Capacity grant (2011). Bridgett has continually dedicated herself to teaching, service-learning and research in Higher Education.

She received an M.A. in sociology, from Western Kentucky University, completed her doctoral studies at University of Maryland, and supplemental statistical and methodological studies at Vanderbilt University.